Elder law is composed of three categories of legal issues: estate planning and administration; Medicaid and long-term care; and guardianship, conservatorship and commitment matters.

Basically, elder law will reach those major issues associated with aging, including disposal or property and its related tax issues, health and benefits issues (Social Security, pensions, Medicaid coverage), powers of attorney and health directives and to a lesser degree, certain real estate and landlord tenant issues, as well as contractual issues involving nursing home care.